When To Use Lawn Aerator?
So, when to use lawn aerator? Aeration is most effective during the growth season, when the grass has time to repair and fill in any open areas left by the removal of soil plugs. Aerate cool season grass lawns in the early spring or fall and warm season grass lawns in the late spring. In this blog, we also have an article about best lawn aerator on amazon that you might want to read about it.
Lawn aeration is the process of puncturing the soil with small holes that aid vital elements, such as air and water, to enter the grassroots.”
Max, author from trees.com
What is Lawn Aerator
A lawn aerator is a horticulture instrument that is used to make holes in the soil to aid in the growth of lawn grasses. Aeration of the lawn entails controlling thatch and minimizing soil compaction, which promotes grass root growth. Aeration, whether by coring or spiking, causes the roots to divide or sever, which occurs infrequently in nature. This aids with the recovery of your grass from winter stress and prepares it for a vigorous summer growth spurt.
How To Aerate Your Lawn
Aerating lawns manually using a wide tine blade works well but requires lots of time and effort. The alternative is an automatic aerator which does all the work for you. These machines range from small electric units that plug into a power source to large gas-powered ones capable of moving heavy loads at high speeds.
In between these two extremes are smaller battery-powered models with a push button start. It’s important to select the right type of machine based on the size of your yard, as larger yards need more power than smaller ones.
How Often Should I Aerate My Lawn?
In most parts of North America lawn care professionals recommend aeration every 3-5 years depending upon the type of grass. This is especially true if the lawn has not been mowed in several weeks or months. In this case it may be necessary to remove any dead grass and topsoil before aerating. If your lawn is heavily compacted with poor soil structure, aeration will help loosen up the surface and improve drainage.
A healthy green lawn will require less aeration. If you have had multiple rounds of fertilizing and irrigation, then your lawn probably only needs to be aerated once every 5 years. If you are looking to grow a fast growing grass like Bermuda or St Augustine, you will need to aerate more frequently, perhaps even twice a year or more.
Lawn aeration is crucial for a healthy lawn, as it allows air, water, and other nutrients to easily penetrate built-up grass and lawn thatch.”
Fantasticgardeners.co.uk
Why Aerating Your Lawn Is Beneficial
To grow thick, deep, and robust, grass roots require air, water, and nutrients. When soil becomes compacted, even slightly, it obstructs the flow of vital nutrients necessary for thicker, healthier turf development. A layer of compacted soil no more than 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick will significantly improve the health and appearance of your lawn. 1 Aeration penetrates the soil to relieve compaction and allow air, water, and nutrients to reach the grass roots.
Compacted soil deprives lawn grasses of their basic needs, causing them to suffer under stressful situations such as heat and limited rainfall, and eventually lose their healthy, vibrant color. Grasses rapidly dwindle in size and eventually die out entirely due to a shortage of oxygen, water, and nutrients just inches away. Even a single aeration session can provide a pathway for these essentials to reach their destination and reintroduce them to your grass.
How to Aerate a Lawn
If you’re confident that your lawn need aeration, the following lawn care ideas will assist you:
- Before you begin, ensure that the soil is sufficiently moist. There is nothing more annoying than attempting to aerate bone-dry dirt. Aerating the day after a rain shower is recommended, as is watering your lawn the day before.
- Because the majority of aeration devices cover only a small portion of the soil surface every pass, repeated runs over the most compacted areas are recommended. Conserve resources (and your energy) by avoiding regions that are not affected.
- Allow the dug soil plugs to dry before breaking them up to provide a uniform, clean appearance for your grass. They can be broken up by running a lawn mower over them or smashing them with the back of a rake. (You may need to sharpen your lawn mower blade after removing the plugs.)
- A common aeration misconception is that aerating your lawn after applying a pre-emergent herbicide in the spring will dissolve the herbicide “barrier.” This is not accurate; research indicates that aeration has little effect on crabgrass or weed management.
- Following aeration, it is critical to maintain basic lawn care procedures such as fertilizer, mowing, and watering.
Aeration is a good strategy for developing a beautiful lawn, but the majority of people are unaware of it or are unfamiliar with the process. If your grass is a candidate, incorporate it into your regular lawn care routine. Your yard will appreciate you for reviving it.